Page 14 of Severance

“Shh,bambolina,” I shush her as I take her face into my hands. My lips meet hers tenderly, leaving her breathless with a slow, gentle kiss. “I know you love me too.”

Dahlia catches her breath as I lightly kiss her forehead. “Go get the chains while I drag this fat ass over there.”

“I love you,” she utters quietly as her eyes search mine.

“You’re only saying that because you got your way.” I chuckle as I release her.

“You’re a stupid man if you truly believe that.” Dahlia laughs lightly as she rolls her eyes.

Walking to Stan’s head, I grab his shoulders and push him into a sitting position. “Go,” I urge her as I position Stan’s back against me. The warm blood from the gunshot in his shoulder sweeps through my shirt.

“Okay.” Dahlia nods and spins on her heel. Hooking my arms under Stan’s armpits, I begin to lift up when I hear her.

“Kai?” Dahlia calls out from the doorway. I glance up at her, meeting her eyes that are glistening and full of emotion. “Thank you for this.”

Without another word, she’s gone.

Anything for you, bambolina… anything.

???

Stan is still unconscious as I drag him across the barn floor and prop him up against the railing. His heavy body is complete dead weight and I’m out of breath by the time I’m done getting him set up. My body steadily pumps adrenaline through my veins, blocking out any pain and masking how depleted my energy really is.

Standing upright, I take a deep breath as I stretch my arms out and watch Dahlia as she enters the room. She wasn’t gone long but her face tells me all that I need to know.

She saw more than just an empty room. She replayed all the memories from that room that are stored in the darkest depths of her mind. And it took her back to a place where no one should ever visit.

Her naturally tanned face is pale, her bright green eyes are slightly dimmed and glazed over. She’s not here with me right now, her mind is lost in the past.

She walks over to me in a daze, clutching the chains in her hands. Stopping in front of me, she stares at my chest and extends her arms out to me.

Ignoring her hands, I grab her face and tilt it back until her eyes meet mine. She’s cold and detached as she gives me a blank stare.

I can’t lose her, not like this, not in this hell.

“Dahlia,” I say softly as I stroke the sides of her face. “Come back to me,bambolina. Leave the past in the past, be here with me now, in the present.”

Her mouth falls open slightly as she continues to stare as my words pass right by her.

“Dahlia.” My voice is louder and demanding as I jerk her head back even farther. She winces but remains silent. “You remember what you were taught… you wear your darkness like a cloak as you let the ice seep into your veins. I want your darkness,bambolina.”

A flicker of clarity passes through her eyes and she blinks rapidly, clearing the haze from her green irises.

“It’s not like before,” she whispers as she’s brought back to reality.

Loosening my grip on her face, she relaxes as I stare down at her and shake my head. “No, it’s not.”

“We’re untouchable.”

For now…

“We’re in control,” I tell her. “Youare in control.”

“I’m in control,” she repeats back to me. A smile tugs at the corners of my lips as she transforms right in front of my eyes.

Dahlia stands up straighter, with her head held high over her shoulders. The darkness dances in the emerald hues of her eyes as the power surges through her. Her face lights up and a wicked grin forms on her lips.

“I’m in control,” she repeats again, only this time her voice is stronger.

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